U.S. Interested in Preserving Israel American Envoy Tells Israelis

The United States is interested in the preservation of Israel and in maintaining the integrity and independence of the countries of the Middle East, Ambassador Edward B, Lawson declared here today in his first speech since his return from a six-month stay in the United States.

The Ambassador cited the Eisenhower Doctrine and Secretary of State Dulles statement of 1956 outlining the conditions under which the United States would be prepared to guarantee a Middle East settlement as evidence of this American concern He spoke before the Israel-American Friendship League at a luncheon in his honer.

During his visit in the U. S., he reported, he had found “a very substantial increase” in public awareness of Israel and Israeli problems. He assured his listeners There is no lack of alert official awareness of Israeli problems. ” The Ambassador said that in the complicated Middle East situation, Israel and its problems appeared particularly important in the U.S.

Earlier. Ambassador Lawson awarded the first of a series of checks meant to support Israeli cultural activities. He handed a check for 300, 000 pounds to the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra Grants will be made to 42 cultural organizations from a fund of 6, 300, 000 pounds accumulated in local currency under an agreement where United States publishers of books, newspapers and magazines sell their products in Israel for local currency which the U.S. Government accepts for dollars.

The exchange in scientific information between American and Israeli scientists will be expanded and speeded following the visit to Israel of Commander Dean Farnsworth, head of the United States Navy Research in London, it was reported here today.

During his ten-day stay in Israel, Commander Farnsworth met Israeli scientists and visited the country’s scientific and research centers. The U.S. aide told Israelis that an increased information exchange would also result from the visits of American biologists and physicists to the Jewish State.